Up until a few weeks ago, I am ashamed to admit that I had never really thought much about Evangelism. Sure I knew what it was and thought it was a great thing, but I linked it more to be something a preacher did, rather than an individual’s. I always considered myself a “Christian”, but when I look back I didn’t do anything to actually deserve that title. My perspective of what truly being a Christian was changed when I went to my father-in-law’s funeral. That’s when I realized the impact that one individual could have on so many people’s lives. I have never seen so many people at a visitation before in my life. They kept coming and coming and lining up for hours outside the church. Sure, I would expect that at a famous person’s funeral, but not one for the everyday person. So it really took me by surprise how many supporters he had. Then came the actual funeral and it was the most beautiful funeral I have ever attended. Ric was a history teacher and football and baseball coach for a small town in South Carolina. At his funeral players he had coached in the past were seated where the choir would normally go. Several got up and spoke. They said that Ric not only taught them to be a man, but a “Godly” man even though that is frowned upon in public schools. It was touching to hear all of their experiences with Ric. There were 3 preachers who spoke at the funeral. The last one said that the one thing Ric would’ve wanted more than anything in the entire world was to know he was going to see all his friends and family in Heaven. 5 people were saved at the funeral right then and there. How absolutely amazing is that? How many of us can say that we have had that kind of effect on people? I know for sure that I haven’t.
So I left the funeral with this nagging feeling that while I was saved, I wasn’t doing my job for God and that I needed to do more. That feeling was intensified when the second Sunday after the funeral the topic was evangelism and how most of us don’t do it.
Shocking facts:
95% of all people never personally witness not even ONE person for Christ
80% of people do not even try to witness for Christ
Less than 2% off all people are involved in the ministry of evangelism
Those statistics AMAZED me. While I hadn’t personally been involved in ministry of evangelism, I thought SURELY that more than 2% of people out there were doing it and that they were doing enough for me too. How completely wrong I was and blindsided with the realization that I haven’t been doing my job for Christ…..I hadn’t even been contemplating it. For the first time in my life I realized with certainty that being a Christian and doing the “right” thing simply wasn’t enough and would never be enough.
While I don’t have my game plan mapped out quite yet of how I am going to approach this enormous responsibility, I am one more step in the right direction and I have a goal and a path to follow, which is something I couldn’t say before. So I’d like to thank Ric Smith for being an amazing man and inspiring so many people and for always putting others first. You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. I also wanted to thank everyone at work as well for they have inspired me in ways they don’t even realize. Before, I was going to Church and doing the “right” things, but I wasn’t strengthening my relationship with God and working on it. I wasn’t reading the bible daily or learning all that I possibly could and growing spiritually. I was stuck in a comfortable rut. It’s time to take control of the wheel and let Jesus lead!
Top reasons most Christian’s don’t witness others to Christ:
1. Some Christians ignore Jesus’ commands.
” Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ…so that all nations might believe and obey him-to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ.” Romans 16:25-27
2. Many Christians have misplaced priorities.
“…the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in.” Mark 4:19
3. Most Christians forget about the fate of lost people.
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment .” Hebrews 9:27